While watching the opening of the soccer match yesterday between Celtic and Manchester United at Celtic Park in Glasgow, ESPN was smart enough to show the part, in between the anthem and the start of the game, where the entire crowd (80,000 strong) stands as one and sings 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Oh my goodness it gives me chills every time I hear it. Everyone is holding their green and white scarfs over their head and singing together. The announcers were smart enough for the most part to stop talking and let us see and hear everyone singing. It was amazing.
So I'm trying to think of what in North American professional sports can compare to that. College sports has traditions like that (dotting of the I, etc.), but that's a little different since tradition is a big part of the college fabric. Perhaps there should be another thread to celebrate that.
But professional sports are different, changes of ownership, arenas, stadiums, and even teams themselves on occasion seem to mitigate against fan traditions to some extent.
The first thing that comes to mind for me (and the most direct comparison) is when the entire Edmonton crowd sang BOTH the American and Canadian national anthems in the Stanley Cup finals a couple of years ago. The singer, sang a little bit and then held the microphone up. That was amazing too, but I'm not sure if it can be called a tradition. Do they do it at every home game? Every home playoff game? Or just in the finals?
At Yankee home games the bleachers do the roll call in the top of the first, with the players actually acknowledging the crowd in between pitches when they hear their name chanted. This happens every game.
At Ranger home playoff games the crowd is so loud during the national anthem you cannot hear yourself think. The only reason you know John Amirante is still singing is you can see the words to the anthem on the scoreboard. I used to scream into my brother's ear when I was a little girl just to see if he could hear me.
J-E-T-S
The crowd cheering with two strikes.
Wasn't there a Miami Dophins Number One song or something? Do they still sing that?
I don't know if things like the Dog Pound qualify, and the Raiders people who dress like it's Halloween...I'm thinking more about things that involve everyone, or at least a lot of fans.
What am I missing?
Sandra
So I'm trying to think of what in North American professional sports can compare to that. College sports has traditions like that (dotting of the I, etc.), but that's a little different since tradition is a big part of the college fabric. Perhaps there should be another thread to celebrate that.
But professional sports are different, changes of ownership, arenas, stadiums, and even teams themselves on occasion seem to mitigate against fan traditions to some extent.
The first thing that comes to mind for me (and the most direct comparison) is when the entire Edmonton crowd sang BOTH the American and Canadian national anthems in the Stanley Cup finals a couple of years ago. The singer, sang a little bit and then held the microphone up. That was amazing too, but I'm not sure if it can be called a tradition. Do they do it at every home game? Every home playoff game? Or just in the finals?
At Yankee home games the bleachers do the roll call in the top of the first, with the players actually acknowledging the crowd in between pitches when they hear their name chanted. This happens every game.
At Ranger home playoff games the crowd is so loud during the national anthem you cannot hear yourself think. The only reason you know John Amirante is still singing is you can see the words to the anthem on the scoreboard. I used to scream into my brother's ear when I was a little girl just to see if he could hear me.
J-E-T-S
The crowd cheering with two strikes.
Wasn't there a Miami Dophins Number One song or something? Do they still sing that?
I don't know if things like the Dog Pound qualify, and the Raiders people who dress like it's Halloween...I'm thinking more about things that involve everyone, or at least a lot of fans.
What am I missing?
Sandra
